jellybelly
09-10-2008, 10:47 AM
Britain's top obesity surgeon has told Sky News he is considering legal action against the NHS for denying patients an operation that would prolong their lives.
http://i35.tinypic.com/ser8lc.jpg
Stomach surgery can reduce appetite
Professor John Baxter said half of all primary care trusts are ignoring NHS guidelines that say morbidly obese patients should have stomach surgery to reduce their appetite.
He believes they strictly limit the procedure because it costs £6,000.
Professor Baxter, who is the president of the British Obesity Surgery Society, said cancer patients have successfully gone to court to win access to expensive new medicines.
He may take similar action to force the NHS to fund surgery - if patients do not beat him to it.
"The case for obesity surgery is overwhelming. It is clearly being rationed," he said.
Around 1.2 million people in Britain are now so obese that they qualify for surgery.
Yet the NHS does fewer than 300 stomach shrinking operations a year.
At that rate, it would take the NHS 54 years to clear the backlog.
The operation involves wrapping a band around the stomach to make it smaller.
Studies show patients can lose half their excess weight within two years and live up to a decade longer.
"You actually save lives," said Professor Baxter.
"A woman of 40 with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 will lose 10 to 12 years of her life unless she loses weight significantly.
"And obesity surgery is often the only way to do that."
Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. It costs the NHS an estimated £1bn a year.
"You actually save money by investing in obesity surgery. Sure it costs a lot up front. But after three to four years you are saving money," said Professor Baxter.
But still primary care trusts are reluctant to pay. Peter Bradley, manager at Suffolk PCT, says there is little evidence that surgery helps with long term weight loss.
"If we save money by restricting the number of operations on people who aren't getting a great deal of benefit from them we have more money to spend on supporting them to adopt healthier lifestyles," he said.
But Professor Baxter believes morbidly obese patients are victims of prejudice, with the public blaming their lifestyle, not their genes, for their body weight.
And that makes them a soft target for healthcare rationing.
http://news.sky.com/
http://i35.tinypic.com/ser8lc.jpg
Stomach surgery can reduce appetite
Professor John Baxter said half of all primary care trusts are ignoring NHS guidelines that say morbidly obese patients should have stomach surgery to reduce their appetite.
He believes they strictly limit the procedure because it costs £6,000.
Professor Baxter, who is the president of the British Obesity Surgery Society, said cancer patients have successfully gone to court to win access to expensive new medicines.
He may take similar action to force the NHS to fund surgery - if patients do not beat him to it.
"The case for obesity surgery is overwhelming. It is clearly being rationed," he said.
Around 1.2 million people in Britain are now so obese that they qualify for surgery.
Yet the NHS does fewer than 300 stomach shrinking operations a year.
At that rate, it would take the NHS 54 years to clear the backlog.
The operation involves wrapping a band around the stomach to make it smaller.
Studies show patients can lose half their excess weight within two years and live up to a decade longer.
"You actually save lives," said Professor Baxter.
"A woman of 40 with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 will lose 10 to 12 years of her life unless she loses weight significantly.
"And obesity surgery is often the only way to do that."
Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. It costs the NHS an estimated £1bn a year.
"You actually save money by investing in obesity surgery. Sure it costs a lot up front. But after three to four years you are saving money," said Professor Baxter.
But still primary care trusts are reluctant to pay. Peter Bradley, manager at Suffolk PCT, says there is little evidence that surgery helps with long term weight loss.
"If we save money by restricting the number of operations on people who aren't getting a great deal of benefit from them we have more money to spend on supporting them to adopt healthier lifestyles," he said.
But Professor Baxter believes morbidly obese patients are victims of prejudice, with the public blaming their lifestyle, not their genes, for their body weight.
And that makes them a soft target for healthcare rationing.
http://news.sky.com/